This year’s Talent Show (2012) was the best yet, we had singing from young and old alike, readings from comedy and facts to Bible scriptures, also puppets shows and all different kinds of skits. This is our third annual talent show and this is the first year that we actually had a curtain so that we could set up each new act. It was REALLY FUN!! After the show we had refreshments and the actors got to mingle with the audience. Click here to see some pictures.

Church Thanksgiving 2011 was a blessing to all who attended. We made it a time of Thanks and a time of Giving. After all, that’s what Thanksgiving is meant to be about. Pastor Ralph gave his annual Thanksgiving sermon and we all agreed that a day set aside is a good thing but that everyday is actually a day for giving thanks. After the service we had the Special fellowship Thanksgiving meal. Wow! Thank God that we had more than enough and are also blessed with some very good cooks. During the meal we took turns relating some of the things we are thankful for. God is so good! Take a look at some pictures here.

Our Church in the park was so very nice; we had perfect weather and we were right next to the playground. The cool breezes were welcome. The Bible study, worship service (including music) and sermon were very fulfilling. Oh! And we don’t want to forget the children’s Sabbath school; we had seven in attendance for that as well. The children’s lesson was about Jonah and they made a nice craft to play with at home as well. The cook, Shawn, was grilling away. We had a variety of foods from hotdogs to hamburgers and veggie burgers with all the fixings, different kinds of salads and roasted corn on the cob. YUMMY! Everyone enjoyed the visiting and the children played Frisbee and played at the playground as well. I heard from the children that pastor Ralph even went down the slide, too bad I didn’t get a picture of that. All in all it was a very nice Sabbath to remember. See pictures here.

Well our 4th of July BBQ and Fireworks were REALLY FUN! We didn’t have very many people show up, but the families that did, had fun and it seemed like we had known all of them for a long time as family, even they, themselves were saying that. We had burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, chips, potato salad, dessert and drinks. We had sparklers and pops for the children to do before the fountain fireworks were set off. In between all of that we had our drawing for our door prizes. All the winners were very pleased needless to say. One little girl was thanking her dad for bringing them there and she was having a lot of fun (she was 8 years old). Praise God! We put some happiness into some families lives and showed the love of Jesus as we did. See pictures here.

Vacation Bible School 2011! Wow what a great event. Our Vacation Bible School was REMARKABLE! Shawn, our new Youth Minister and his wife Nadia made it happen after only two months. They had some excellent help from Barbara and Nikki. Pretty good when you consider more than two years of talk never brought us a VBS! We must remember with God involved in anything you do, it is possible. The new youth leadership put a fleece out to the Lord and it was answered and the Lord gave our church a room for the children to meet in and even gave it to us free of charge. Praise God! We handed out around 600 door hangers and flyers. With God‘s leading and our own initiative we had a very good VBS. This was our first one and it was a very interesting week, from bathroom lines to playing Bible bingo and everything in between. We prayed together, read together, ate together, sang together, played together and yes some argued together. When it comes to fellowship this was time to be remembered. Yes, that is what we all had this week and made some new friends too. We explored new things also, like missionary stories and how to find a book, chapter and verse in the Bible. We also have an understanding of why we get baptized and what it symbolizes and if we ask God for anything He hears us and is there for us. “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us” 1 John 5:14 (KJV). Our VBS graduation was on July 2nd all the children and parents were there, we had an overflowing room, people were standing outside of the room and some in the foyer. We had children volunteering to say their memory verses in the graduation program, more than we needed, they all wanted to do something and their singing was heavenly. The picture slide show was great as well, showing some things that we did during the week. We all thanked God for what He did. Click here to see the VBS graduation class photo.

The Hanley Farm trip was a great success!! It was June 4^th 2011 and an absolutely beautiful day; a little warm wind and some overcast made it just right. There were twenty people that came and eight of them were children. We fed chickens, went on a hayride, ate fresh churned butter on crackers and even watched a comedy pioneer show. The children did that and much more. There were many different kinds of crafts at tables all around the area, which were included in the price of just $4.00 and adults were free, who could ask for anything better? God’s creation was evident wherever you looked and the kids felt the wonder of the natural beauty manifested at the farm. It was a lovely day of refreshing fellowship among brethren and a lot of fun. See the old barn here.

Billed as The Greatest Little Talent Show in Town it lived up to the hype! January 15^th 2011 turned out to be a day to be remembered. If having fun were a sin, this church would be in big trouble! I'm thinking of all the fun we had entertaining, and being entertained at The Greatest Little Talent Show in Town. The entire show was truly priceless, in all ways. We pretty much had it all: Inspirational readings, original poetry, wonderful religious songs both vocal and instrumental, standup comedy, humorous skits and even a riddle. We didn’t miss much. Perhaps next year we can add hand puppets and a mime. Does anyone know how to juggle? One visitor liked the show so much she put some pictures of it on her Facebook page. This is the stuff that memories are made of. One scripture that comes to mind is this: (Proverbs 17:22 NIV) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. See the collage here.

Noah’s Ark. We saw it, been there, and done that. Not, “The” Noah’s Ark of course, but the one in Winston, Oregon. On September 25th, 2010 our church members left for an outing to Winston, OR for the afternoon. Nadia had been telling us about the Noah’s Ark adventure in Winston for nearly two years; so, we thought it was time to check it out. Instead of our usual weekly potluck, we each brought a sack lunch to ‘eat-and-run’ after our regular church services. Though, it was a sack-lunch break, we brought plenty of extra to share; and everybody ate abundantly! Pastor Rich delivered the sermon for the day, which kicked off our afternoon in a positive direction. After lunch, we carpooled to consolidate the crew, and to extend our fellowship time. Upon arrival at Noah’s Ark, our previously assigned tour guide took over. She was bible literate, and the exhibit was well presented. After the tour, we had time to visit on the outside deck and inside the restaurant/gift shop area. Pastor Ralph proposed that we go to dinner at a Mexican restaurant before heading back home; so, off we went! The food was delicious, and the company was even better. We had a great time, and flew our own paper airplanes during and after dinner (at least, we attempted to fly them). Our wait staff was funny and friendly, and very good at their jobs. Once dinner was over, we headed back to Grants Pass in our carpools, each group enjoying its own special experience. It was a beautiful Sabbath day spent with church family. We were all blessed in so many ways, and are looking forward to our next outing, whatever that might be. See the group picture here.